"You know what? I'm done playing second fiddle to the NYPD." Linda angrily pushed her chair out and walked towards the kitchen. She grasped Henry's shoulder; she had almost made it outside when Danny had said her name.
"Linda," he placed a hand on her shoulder which she shrugged off.
"No, Danny. You're not gonna sweet talk yourself outta this one. You're not gonna give sympathetic looks. You're not gonna hug me, and you're not gonna tell me everything's okay. Cause it's not okay."
"You're not second fiddle to the NYPD."
"Yes, Danny, I am! I didn't used to have to worry about some punk kid, shooting at our family! The bullet was right next to Jack and Sean. If it had been closer, at least one of us would be severely injured. You know, I'm still terrified every time you walk out the door, that you won't come home... It's sickening! And now I have to be scared that Jack or-or Sean won't make it home. And then I see you showing Jack your gun, right after he was shot at. He's scared, Danny. And what? I don't even get consulted. You don't even think to come to me and say, 'hey, I think it's time to teach our son about gun safety'. You just go ahead and do it! This is a marriage, Danny! And by definition, a compromise! But I wasn't consulted." Linda looked away and licked her lip, collecting her feelings. She wasn't going to cry. "And when you get pulled into a case at oh-dark-thirty, you don't say, 'Can I skip this one? My wife really needs me'. Or when you're headed out the door and they say they need you, you don't say, 'I'm sorry, but my wife's gonna give herself a heart attack from worrying'. You just go ahead and take it. And I'm getting real tired of the angry phone calls..." Linda put her hand on her head, "look. When I married you, I knew I'd have to share you with the job sometimes, y'know? But I didn't know you'd have an enormous hero complex. Why don't they just send you out with a big sign over your head saying, 'I have an enormous hero complex. Come shoot me and send me to my grave'!?"
"I do not have a hero complex." Danny argued.
"Oh no? Might I remind you how you went swaggering into a bank with no gun or vest or any form of protection?! And don't tell me you knew what he was going to do, cause that's bullshit! And- and you won't hand off this case. It's too close to home!"
"Linda-"
"When is it going to be too much, Danny? Huh? When? When we're looking at a headstone for an eleven year old? Or when we're looking at one for an eight year old? Or when we're looking at one for an NYPD detective? I can't- I won't- I couldn't-" Linda hung her head as the tears started to fall.
Danny pulled her into an embrace, feeling how she clung to him as if he was the only thing keeping her from drowning. He kissed her head, knowing it'd be useless to argue. "Linda, I love you. More than anything. And I do everything in my power to come home to you... and you're right. I should've consulted you."
"What?" Linda choked, not being able to hear the last sentence because of a sob.
"I should've asked you first."
"I-" a big sob escaped her lips, her shoulders shaking. She felt herself being lowered, "it's-"
Danny shushed her and cradled her head. He still thought he was right, but she had made some valid points.
Meanwhile, Frank walked into the dinning room. "Hey, sorry I'm late... where's Danny and Linda?"
"Kitchen." Jamie answered plainly.
"I wouldn't go in there if I were you," Erin warned.
"Why not?" Frank looked to the open door of the kitchen.
"Linda's having an emotional breakdown," Jamie took a sip of his water.
"She's not having a breakdown," Erin argued, "she made some very valid points."
Frank was about to say something when he heard an enormously, heartbreaking sob. He ignored his children and walked into the kitchen.
"Come on, Linda. Don't cry." Danny rubbed her back soothingly up and down.
"Can't..."
"Yes, you can, baby."
Linda felt like she couldn't breathe, "air," she choked out.
Danny knew what that meant. He helped her stand up, then sat her on the island. He took her hand in his, and placed it over his heart. "Just breathe, baby. In and out..."
Frank raised an eyebrow. He wondered if the event that was taking place was a common occurrence.
Linda closed her eyes and focused on breathing. Once her breath was regulated, she pulled Danny to her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. She kissed his neck, cheek, and earlobe, "I love you, Danny."
Frank smiled and retreated to the dining room, "I think they'll be fine."
